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Quick stepsabout 5 min
- 1
Open your IPTV player. The guide is managed by the player app, not by Fire TV's own settings.
- 2
Go to its EPG settings. In TiviMate, Settings, EPG. In other players, look for EPG, TV guide or refresh in the settings or on the guide screen.
- 3
Run an update. Choose Update EPG or refresh, and wait while it downloads and processes the guide.
- 4
Set a daily schedule. Set the guide to update once a day, and on app start if the option exists.
On a Firestick, the IPTV guide is updated inside your player app, not in Fire TV's settings. In TiviMate, go to Settings > EPG and run Update EPG. In other players, look for EPG, TV guide or refresh in the settings or on the guide screen. Then set it to update itself once a day so you never have to think about it.
In TiviMate
- Open Settings > EPG.
- Check your guide source is listed. If not, add it; see how to add EPG to TiviMate.
- Run Update EPG and wait. Large guides take a minute or two on a stick.
- Set the update interval to daily, and turn on updating when the app starts if that option is there.
In XCIPTV
XCIPTV loads the guide from your Xtream login or M3U. Look in its settings for the EPG or refresh option, or reload the playlist, and let it finish. Its store listing describes EPG support for Xtream Codes, EZServer and M3U (XCIPTV on Google Play).
In IPTV Smarters
Refresh the guide from the app's settings or reload option, or log out and back into your profile to force a fresh download. Note that Smarters Pro no longer gets updates after its 2026 removal from the app stores; see EPG in IPTV Smarters.
When the guide won't update
- Low storage. Check Settings > My Fire TV > About > Storage. Delete unused apps and old Downloader files.
- The link changed. Guide links often contain your password, so they break after renewals. Get the current link from your service.
- The update was interrupted. Keep the app open until it finishes the first time.
- The service's guide is down. If nothing works, ask the service.
Guide showing the wrong times
Check your Fire TV's time zone under Settings > Preferences (date and time settings), then use your player's EPG time shift if needed. More causes and fixes: IPTV EPG not working.
How long an update takes
On a Fire TV Stick, a large guide can take from a few seconds to a couple of minutes, depending on how many channels and days it covers. The first update after adding a source is the slowest. If it regularly takes much longer, reduce the guide days kept and hide unused channel groups.
Updating on app start
Where available, the option to update the guide when the app starts is a good safety net for devices that sleep through their scheduled update. It adds a short delay on opening but keeps the guide fresh.
Guide sources that stop updating
If the guide stops at a certain date, the source itself stopped updating. Try the source link in a computer browser: an old date inside the file, or an error, points to the service. Ask for a current link. Details in What is EPG?
Common mistakes to avoid
- Looking for the guide refresh in Fire TV's own settings instead of the player.
- Mixing a guide from one source with a playlist from another.
- Keeping two weeks of guide data on a small stick.
Keep guide updates light
On small sticks, a huge guide slows everything. Hide channel groups you don't watch and keep only a few days of past guide data. It makes updates faster and scrolling smoother; see IPTV freezing on Firestick for related fixes.
Frequently asked questions
- How do I refresh the TV guide on my Firestick?
- Open your IPTV player and use its EPG or guide refresh option. In TiviMate it's Settings, EPG, Update EPG. Fire TV's own settings don't manage IPTV guides.
- How often should the EPG update?
- Once a day. Guides cover several days ahead, so more frequent updates add load without making the guide more accurate.
- Why won't my EPG update on Firestick?
- Common causes are low storage, an expired or changed guide link, the service's guide being down, or the app being closed before the update finishes. Free up space, check the link, and let the update complete.
- How do I fix EPG on a Firestick that shows the wrong times?
- Check the Fire TV's time zone in Settings, Preferences, then use the player's EPG time shift option if the guide is still off.
- Does updating the EPG use a lot of data?
- No. Guide files are small compared with video, usually a few megabytes.
- Why does my guide only show a few hours?
- The source may only provide a short window, or the player is set to keep few days. Check the player's EPG settings and the source.
- Can I update the EPG automatically?
- Yes. Set the player's guide update interval to daily, and enable update on app start where available.
- Why is my EPG missing for some channels?
- Channel IDs don't match the guide file. Match them manually in the player.
- How long does an EPG update take?
- From seconds to a couple of minutes on a Firestick, depending on guide size.
- Does restarting the Firestick update the EPG?
- Only if your player is set to update on start. Otherwise, run the update from the player's settings.
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